Rating: PG-13
Theme: #26 Chain Reaction
There are two things that are glaringly obvious about Maes Hughes.
Fact One: he is not a man characterized by self-control. Everyone, of course, knows this from the very first time they see him and the hundreds of snapshots shoved in their faces. The only reason he is able to keep his job is because he doesn't find the nation's most highly classified information any fun to share with strangers on the street.
Fact Two: he is above all a family man. Everyone, of course, knows this from the very first time they see him and the hundreds of snapshots shoved in their faces. There's no denying it: there's pictures, there's evidence.
Sometimes, Maes Hughes finds his lack of self-control getting him into illogical situations.
Like now, when it's dark and he knows that he and Roy are the only people left in the office—no, in the building—and he can feel that impulse burning through him. It starts, and he can't stop it, and things just start happening, snowballing out of control. Little things at first, like a bony hand laid amiably on his friend's shoulder. Soon, things like ruffling the dark hair and placing lips on pale skin. Eventually, like dominoes, the little acts speed along and overlap, and Hughes has Roy pinned to the wall, tongue in his mouth and hands sneaking under his blue uniform.
And even though the other man's breath comes as heavily as his, he still has the strength, dignity, and integrity to breathe one word—
"Gracia."
And that's it, the spell is broken. Hughes withdraws his hands, steps back. Both are flushed with lust and guilt. They don't look at each other, and there is nothing more to say. Maes gathers his things and goes home to his family.